Antenna mounting



Dec. 25, 1951 M R FR'EDBERG 2,580,350

ANTENNA MOUNTING Filed April 19, 1947 21 F 2 I l l 3 16. 22 H Ill 2 l 2 I 23 30 l 'l I 23 27 18 ll 1 12 B I I INVENTOR. E61 MILTON R Rama/5R6 Fl-r-r-oRA/Exs Patented Dec. 25, 1951 ANTENNA MOUNTING Milton R. Friedberg, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to The Gabriel Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 19, 1947, Serial No. 742,637

2 Claims.

This invention pertains to radio antennae for motor vehicles and the like and, more particularly, to a radio antenna having an adjustable articulated connection to its supporting base.

An object of the invention is the provision of a new and novel articulated connection between a radio antenna, which may be of the so-called whip type, and a mounting or supporting base adapted to be mounted at desired positions on the body of an automotive vehicle or the like, which connection is simple in structure, economical to manufacture, attractive in appearance, adjustable to a maximum amount, easily tightened in any adjusted position, and, when once tightened, shakeproof and rattleproof under even the most severe operating conditions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved articulated joint or connection for permitting relative adjustment between a radio antenna and its supporting base, the joint having tightening means, and other means for deforming or indentation into at least one of the opposing surfaces of the joint upon tightening of the tightening means and for permanently fixing the joint in any adjusted position and preventing loosening or rattling thereof.

Another object of the invention. is the provision of a new andimproved articulated joint or connection for permitting relative angular adjustment between a radio antenna and its supporting base, the joint having means for tightenin same, one of the members forming the joint having a projection of material harder than the material of another member of the joint which is adapted to be forced into the latter member upon tightening of the tightening means for relievin the tightening means of the principal stresses tending to loosen the joint when in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of anew and improved combination of a radio antenna and supporting base therefor having an articulated joint or connection for permitting relative adjustment therebetween, the joint having tightening means, and other means supported on one of the members forming the joint for indentation into a surface of another member forming the joint upon tightening of the tightening means for permanently fixing the joint in any adjusted or desired position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved combination of a radio antenna and supporting base therefor having an articulated connection therebetweenfor permitting angular adjustment of the antenna relative to the base, the articulated connection comprising a ballv member, a mating socket member, and tightening means for. moving the members into opposed fixed relationship, one of the members having a projection harder than the material of the other member for deforming same upon tightening of the tightening means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved radio antenna of the elongated whip type and a supporting base therefor having an articulated connection therebetween permitting adjustment of the antenna .relative to the base, the connection comprising a ball member, a mating socket member, and a rotatable threaded tightening nut for tightening the connection, the member connected to the antenna having a projection extending beyond its mating surface generally on the axis of the antenna and of a material harder than the material of the mating member for being forced into same upon rotation and tightening of the nut, the arrangement being such that any tendency of the member connected to the antenna to rotate uponrotation of the nut also tends to rotate the projection on the axisof the antenna and into the other member at only a single position. i

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section showing a radio antenna and base embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is an exploded view partly in section of portions of Fig. -1.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises a radio antenna and base therefor having an articulated connection therebetween so as to permit angular adjustment of the antenna relative to the base, the structure of the articulated connection being such that when'the antenna is adjusted to its desired and final angular position relative to the base and the articulated connection .is tightened, the members of .the connection are so deformed as to prevent loosening under even the most adverse and severe conditions.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in a radio antenna A of the so-called whip type mounted or supported at its lower end on a supporting base B, in turn mounted or suitably positioned on the sloping panel C.

of an automotive vehicle body or the like.

The panel C shown may be any portion of an automotive vehicle body or the like, whether sloping, vertical, or horizontal, orat the front or rear thereof, and is preferably perforated or drilled to provide a suitable opening (not shown) for passing a lead-in connection from the antenna A on the exterior of the panel to the interior thereof as well as a passage for clamping means to fasten the base B onto thepanel. I

As shown, the base B comprisesa socketed member I I! and a pair of hollow cylindrical sleeves;

an inner or lower sleeve I I and an outer or upper sleeve I2, positioned on oppositesides'of the-body panel C with the ends thereof in abutment thereagainst. The central openings of the sleeves are preferably aligned with each other and with the openinglin the. body panel. The socketed member III may be positioned on the outer or upper end of the outer sleeve I2, and insulated therefrom by a. suitable insulating washer I3. The socketed member III, as shown, is electrically connected to the antenna A, and a threaded bolt I threaded into its lower surfaceextends through the aligned openings to the lower or inner side of thebody panel C where itis suitably engaged by other threaded means (not shown) to firmly hold the sleeves II,.I2 in abutment with the body panel C and'the socketed'member in position onthe outer sleeve l2.

The antenna A may take any one of a number of 5 different forms and may be made of any desired metal. As shown, the antennacomprises a lower rodlike member IB'preferabIy of tubular construction and an u per rodlike member I'I also preferably of tubular construction of a smaller diameter than and telescopically arranged with the lower member.

In the embodiment shown, the lower end of the outer or lower tube IB' is provided with a ball'member I8 wh ch fits into a generally hemispherically shaped'recess I9 in the upper-surface of the socketed member I 6,.thus providing an articulated. joint between the antenna Aandthe base B. The ball member I8 may be'fived to the antenna A in any suitable'manner, but in the embodiment shown is rovided with an' axial boss 2I extending into and fitting snugly with the interior of the lower endiof' the lower or outer tube I6. As shown, the boss 2| has one or'a plura it of s aced c rcumferentiallv extending grooves 72 in its surface into wh ch adja ent portions of the wall of the lo er tube It have been s un as at 23, thus providin a firm and indestruct ble connection bet een the antenna A and the ha l mem er I8. The outersurface of the boss 2| has short, axially-extending, circumferentiallv-arranged serrations or knurls 24 on its outer surface which, when the boss-is inserted into the inter or of the tube I6 upon assembly, tend to bite throu h any film, rust. or scale on the interior ofthe tube I6 and provide a good electrical connection between the antenna and the ball member.

The hall member I8 maybe held in assembled relationship in the'hemispherical recess I 9 of the socketed member Ill by any suitable means, but as shown in the drawings the outer surface of the portion of the'socketed member I0 defining the recess I9 is threaded as at 26 and a sleeve nut. 2'! having at? one end a radially inwardly extending flange 28 defining anopening 29' of less diameter than the diameter of the ball mem-- ber I8 is threadably engaged therewith. While the flange 28 may have a curved surface for engaging the surface of the ball member I8, it is preferred that the surfaces thereof intersect to form a relatively sharp or angular corner 30 for providing,only a line contact. with. the surface of the ball member Ill. Thus it will be seen that the antenna A may be tilted within the limits of the structure through a large number of angles relative to the socketed member III andthe base B whereby the same antenna and base may be used on a plurality of different styles and/or makes of automotive vehicles, and the antenna A may be tilted to the angle most pleasing to the eye for the particular vehicle on which installed;

On. antennas of the type referred to, because of the length of the antenna, the wind pressures imposed thereon at high speeds and vibrations of the autcmotivevehicle body due to irregularities in the pavement, etc, very high and severe stresses are imposed onthearticulated connection. The present invention contemplates means for relieving the sleeve nut 27 and the normal frictional forces, when the joint is tightened, between the surfaces of the ball member I 3 and the hemispherical recess I9 of much of the burden of resisting the forces on the connection. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the ball member I8 has a recess 3 I preferably axially aligned with theboss 2| in which a pin 32 is inserted of a length such that a pointed end 33 will project beyond the surface of the ball member I8. The material of the pin may be harder than the material of the mating member, which in this instance is the socketed member I0, such that as the sleeve nut 21 is tightened down upon the final installation of the antenna, the pointed end of the pin 32 will perforate or indent into the surface thereof. Preferably the material of the opposed mating member is of relatively soft material such as brass, while the pin is of hardened steel or the like. The pin when imbedded in the opposing member provides broad bearing surfaces for absorbing the forces on the connection which will not pound out during severe usage.

W th the construction shown, the antenna A is first adjusted angularly re ative to the base B to any desired posit-ion and the sleeve nut 21 is then tightened down using a wrench or otherwise forcing the members into engagement and indenting or perforating the pointed end 33 of-the pin 32 into and below the surface of the hemispherical recess I9.

It will be appreciated that when an installation is made, the base B will ordinarily first be securely mounted on the body panel C. with its axis ad usted as desired by positioning the angular faces of the sleeves II, I2. The antenna A is then held manually or otherwise in its desired angular position and the nut 21 ti htened down. Because of the rotation of the nut 27, the antenna A and ball m mber I8 may also tend to rotate about the antennas own arts as well as possibly attempting to shift its angular position. Because of the length of the antenna, holdingit in 'the desired'angular position will not be difficult,

but because of its small diameter, preventing it from rotating will be relatively difiicult. 'With the construction shown, however, rotation of the antenna A about its own axis as the nut 21 is tightened will not be detrimental for the pointed "end 33 of the pin 32 is, asstated, preferably posi-.-

tioned on the diameter of the ball member-I8 to maintain the antenna A in that angular position during subsequent tightening of the nut 21.

In the embodiment of the invention which has been described, the ball member 18 has been referred to as fixed to the base of the antenna and the socketed member It as forming a part of the base B. As an alternative construction, the socketed member could be suitably fixed to the antenna A and the ball member suitably fixed to the base B. In the case of such an alternative construction, it would be preferred that the pin 32 then be inserted in an aperture in the socketed member with the point of the projection on the axis of the antenna 50 that as the sleeve nut 21 is tightened and the antenna rotates about its axis, the pointed end 33 of the pin 32 will only tend to be driven into a single position in the opposed ball member. The pin may, if desired, be mounted on the member fixed to the base.

Thus it will be seen that an embodiment of the invention has been described which accomplishes the objects hereinbefore enumerated and others and provides an articulated connection for positioning an antenna relative to its base, which is easily assembled, and which when once assembled will remain relatively rattleproof throughout the life of the installation.

Although in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes this invention is described as embodied in concrete form and structure and the principle thereof has been described together with the best mode in which it is now contemplated applying that principle, it will be understood that the apparatus shown and described is merely illustrative and that the invention is not limited thereto, since alterations and modifications differing materially in appearance and structure will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit of this invention or from the scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the type described including a base adapted to be mounted on the body of an automotive vehicle, an antenna, and means including ball member and mating socket member for articulately supporting said antenna on said base; means for locking said members in any articulated position, one of said members having a recess with a pointed pin fixed therein and projecting therefrom for insertion into the surface of the other of said members upon locking said members in an adjusted position.

2. In a device of the type described including a base adapted to be mounted on the body of an automotive vehicle, an antenna, and means ineluding.- a ball member and mating socket memher for articulately supporting said antenna on said base; means for locking said members in any articulated position, one of said members having a recess with a pointed pin fixed therein and projecting therefrom for insertion into the surface of the other member upon actuation of said means for locking said members for permanently fixing said members in any adjusted position, said recess being formed in the member connected to said antenna and aligned with the axis of said antenna.

MILTON R. FRIEDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 153,943 Gray Aug. 11, 1874 206,393 Ellinger July 30, 1878 575,876 Chattav/ay Jan. 26, 1897 1,377,355 Knapp May 10, 1921 2,161,771 Alexander June 6, 1939 2,312,107 Mace et a1. Feb. 23, 1943 

